Clive Alderton has been King Charles’ long-time private secretary, which is a royal household’s equivalent of a chief-of-staff. Alderton was Charles’ private secretary and lead courtier before Charles was king, and Alderton was arguably the architect of the 2020 Sussexit terms, with a lot of help from Simon Case (who was then Prince William’s private secretary) In Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, he referred to Alderton as the Wasp. Even before Spare, many royal reporters knew about and talked around Alderton’s power, especially when it came to gatekeeping Charles from both of his sons. Well, interesting news! Alderton is leaving. He’s stepping down as Charles’ all-powerful private secretary.
The King’s most senior aide will step down next year, Buckingham Palace has announced. Sir Clive Alderton, the principal private secretary to the King and Queen, has worked for the royal couple for 20 years, including 11 as their principal private secretary, but will stand down around his 60th birthday in May.
Alderton, who has a remuneration package of about £300,000 a year, has received plaudits for helping to smooth the transition of the change in reign. He has helped the King deliver some of his most significant speeches, including his address to Congress on the state visit to the US in April this year and a landmark speech in Berlin when, in 2023, Charles became the first British monarch to address the Bundestag.
The Palace said that the King and Queen were “deeply grateful to Clive for his tireless support and wise counsel over the years and for the enduring loyalty that will ensure a smooth transition to his successor”.
Alderton was knighted in the 2022 Birthday Honours list and his longevity has been a sign of the King’s affection. He is understood to be stepping down to retire.
Julian Payne, former communications secretary to Charles and Camilla, described Alderton as a “royal ringmaster” who “has had the great good fortune to be surrounded by some incredibly talented colleagues”. He added that Alderton was part of the “golden triangle, acting with the cabinet secretary and prime minister’s principal private secretary as guardians of our unwritten constitution”.
Valentine Low, former royal correspondent for The Times, wrote about Alderton in his book Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, describing him as “smooth, charming and humorous”. Low added: “With his boyish face and floppy blond hair, he looks like a caricature of an English gentleman … Some people love Alderton, who fits the image of the polished diplomat-turned-courtier; others find him a touch too elusive. He has, they suspect, read his Machiavelli. ‘Clive is a schemer, a chess player,’ said one friend. ‘He is a figure from Wolf Hall or House of Cards.’”
So, here’s an uncomfortable admission: Tom Sykes was right??? Sykes has been following the internal drama within Buckingham Palace for a while, and he was basically the only one saying this month that all of the bulls–t in and around the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s UK visit was a “hawks vs. doves” situation within BP. Sykes wrote, in his Royalist Substack, that “the hawks, led by Clive Alderton… agree with William that Harry should not be allowed anywhere near the King and regard it as their duty to protect the sovereign from his own softer instincts.”
In that same Royalist piece, Sykes called Theo Rycroft one of the “doves” on Charles’ staff, and one of the biggest potential successors for the private secretary position. Rycroft was seemingly brought in last year specifically to deal with the fractured royal relations between the king and his sons, and if Rycroft comes in as the new private secretary, there could be some big changes in how the palace deals with both Prince Harry AND Prince William. But yeah, Sykes was right – in that same Substack piece, he wrote, “I would not be surprised to see departures from the King’s staff over the coming months as a result of all this. Some aides are very, very unhappy.” “This” being Harry and Meghan bringing the children to see Charles at Highgrove. Fascinating, isn’t it? Another piece of interesting gossip is that last year, Sykes pretty much admitted that Alderton and the “hawks” were behind the leaks about Harry’s meeting with Charles last September. Hmm.
Of course, it’s possible that this has nothing to do with internal royal-family drama – I find it interesting that Alderton is leaving one week after Keir Starmer was replaced by Andy Burnham. There’s likely a strong political element to all of this too.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
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- King Charles III and Sir Clive Alderton (left) and Idris Elba, founder of the Elba Hope Foundation and an alumnus of the King’s Trust, listen during a Youth Opportunity Summit at St James’s Palace in London, with young people, youth organisations, government officials, and representatives from the sports, education and arts sectors. Picture date: Tuesday July 15, 2025.,Image: 1022135357, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no , Credit line: Aaron Chown/Avalon
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- (left to right) Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Sir Clive Alderton, King Charles III and Idris Elba, founder of the Elba Hope Foundation and an alumnus of the King’s Trust, during a Youth Opportunity Summit at St James’s Palace in London, with young people, youth organisations, government officials, and representatives from the sports, education and arts sectors. Picture date: Tuesday July 15, 2025.,Image: 1022135333, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no , Credit line: Aaron Chown/Avalon
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- (left to right) Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Sir Clive Alderton, King Charles III and Idris Elba, founder of the Elba Hope Foundation and an alumnus of the King’s Trust, during a Youth Opportunity Summit at St James’s Palace in London, with young people, youth organisations, government officials, and representatives from the sports, education and arts sectors. Picture date: Tuesday July 15, 2025.,Image: 1022135346, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no , Credit line: Aaron Chown/Avalon
Sounds like Alderton, who was happy to leak, could have been one of Sykes’ unhinged sources.
There’s still plenty of damage he can do between now and next May, when he is put out to pasture. Wonder if now, with the sun peeking in to “disinfect” things, he’ll just become more and more impotent in his position…?
Gotta wonder how/when Scoots got the news, what was his reaction(s)? Were pillows flying or did he go on a bender, ranting and raging against his father having the temerity to live, and Harry and “That Woman” making inroads with Harry’s desire to reconnect with his deadbeat dad.
Fascinating. The main character of House of Cards, Francis Urquhart, is a scheming, manipulative, blackmailing murderer. And the quote that he “has had the great good fortune to be surrounded by some incredibly talented colleagues” is interesting, too.
Unless Alderton’s strategy was to create a nearly decade-long royal mess, it seems things haven’t gone according to plan.
Last year Tina Brown also hinted that Alderton was going to step down. So this is long in the making. It’s debatable whether this decision was a result of a power struggle. It’s interesting that this piece doesn’t mention that he was instrumental in Harry’s decision to leave the Royal Family and mishandled the Andrew situation. I won’t be surprised if he’s being shifted to some other role in the Palace. So I’m very doubtful that there will be any real change in the way that the Palace treats Harry and Meghan.
I know, recollections can vary. Looking back on Alderton’s work, some people might see a relentless tradtionalist with a strong hand and the absolute will to preserve the monarchy as it always was. I see a petty brutal schemer with a broken printer who destroyed a family and pushed poll numbers for the Royal Family right down to lawn level. But I have to give him that: Alderton freed the Sussexes. Without him they would still be stuck between a rock and a hard place in an impossible half in-half out-situation. So: Thank you for your service, Sir. Abolish the monarchy!
No, it was the Bee (and he looks like one) who had the “broken” printer. The Wasp is the petty, scheming, vindictive, vengeful so-and-so who keeps scores and strikes without warning in the most harmful ways possible.
I think Alderton is the one who’s said to “REALLY loathe” M from the start, presumably because she didn’t bow and scrape to him, a member of staff. He really saw himself as the king.
its before 6am. i read this as the bee with a broken sphincter. ill see myself out now. 👩🏾💻
🎯
I keep thinking of how Elizabeth was forced to accept her father‘s private secretary as her own, when she became queen. How the rules are different for men than for women.
I would love if it’s lead to the security situation being sorted but I’m not holding my breath
Maybe Charles requested him to sort it out, but he would not accept it. That would be the best case scenario.
Hmm. I wonder if no room at the Inn, was the final straw, and if the worldwide bad press put the ” doves” over the top? This guy has overseen seven years of horrendously bad judgment and decision-making from the upper levels of management for the Royal family. From the media approach with Kensington Palace on how to deal with the Sussexes and their popularity after their wedding and the first tour, to their departure and everything that has followed.
Also, overseeing actual scandal’s involving Charles, William, Andrew and Fergie with the Duchy cash grabs and the Yorks deal. To supporting the absolutely boneheaded RAVEC decision making process for Harry’s security and co-signing William’s constant rage shrieking, laziness, and penchant for mistruths. I’m sure there’s not a ton he could do control William but he could have done better with how BP managed their responses.
I suppose trying to ingratiate himself with William when they thought that Charles was on death’s door last year, probably didn’t help his case either.The new guy appears to have gotten his way. He’s probably been in the background for the last year saying compare the reaction when you listen to my decisions versus listening to his.
I guess we’ll see if this actually changes some of the media reporting, especially with BP still bringing on people like Rhiannon Mills to work in comms. He could be ” leaving” just like that Michael Fawcett guy ” left”, or Susan Hussey.
ETA- my original post seems to have been eaten.
There’s not a lot that seems to really make Charles sit up and take notice, but one thing is the kind of hit to his popularity after BP pulling the room invitation at the last minute. The second is anything to do with Diana’s family. The contrast with the obvious hospitality of the Spencers and the amount of time the Sussexes spent there was stark. I wonder if the whole humiliation scenario leading up to the one year to go event was Alderton’s last gasp big idea, massively backfired, and hastened the announcement of his (eventual) departure.
I’m also curious what went on in the meeting between Harry’s representatives and Charles’ people last July, and with Harry’s private meeting with Charles in September. It would make sense for the discussion to be about the IG in Birmingham next year, with an eye to what part Charles would play. And it has to be obvious, even to him, that the six years vendetta against Harry and family has failed, that Harry is internationally respected, and is neither coming back to England, nor disappearing anytime soon. Which means, in addition to all of the other extremely poor decisions by BP in the last half dozen years, their major project, to have a broken Harry come crawling back, has been a massive failure. And that has all been on Alderton’s watch.
Hmm. There’s still a year left. And I wonder what Clive’s relationship with William is like. I’d imagine they are at least united in their goal of keeping Harry away.
So, they’re basically acknowledging that Harry pegged this guy, correctly. Goodbye to the wasp’s nest. Hope this means that Harry will get better treatment from BP.
When the history books are written, he’ll be identified as one of the people who helped bring down the monarchy.
Interesting information.. I do hope when he leaves he stays gone especially if he’s been the one leaking info and spreading lies and hate. He certainly doesn’t sound Ike a good human being but rather a hateful coward and probably one of the main people who is quoted as “sources close to the King” or “unnamed sources”.
It seems ODD in the extreme that this man’s departure is being announced nearly a year in advance. I agree with those online (e.g. Zandi Sussex) who have said that this seems like a way to control who gets to replace him. Seems/suggests that there is no love lost between him and his deputy Theo Rycroft, who would be the natural and expected successor and who has experience as an actual diplomat. Harry named him the Wasp for a reason.
One could also suspect that Alderton has actually been given the sack, and his drip-feeding details of his departure is his way of controlling the narrative. Charles must have got his mojo back and realised that (a) Alderton switched his allegiance to William years ago while undermining his actual boss, the king, and (b) Harry can quite likely trace the refusal by RAVEC to conduct the risk assessment for his security to Alderton, who has been working in cahoots with William’s two (that we know of) representatives on the committee to block it and expose Harry and his family to danger.
He probably negotiated a delayed exit so he could meddle in and leak as many details surrounding Charles as possible. I hope he leaves sooner, rather than later. Otherwise it would be like Knauf who announced his “departure” well in advance but then never actually left.
My mouth fell open when I heard that he was only 60, because he looks to be the same age as Charles, and in some photos before Charles was diagnosed with cancer, even older.
Not even 60—he only turned 59 in May!! That’s hardly an old age…!
Nowadays, men and women that age look like forty-somethings, not like grandpas.
Keanu Reeves turns 62 in September; could
almost pass for his son.
A nasty personality makes you look older. Just look at Middleton without Botox and Photoshop.
Yeah also Becky English said he’s turning 60 and hitting “pensioner” age. So he might have just been waiting for this birthdate to retire all along but announcing it the week after Harry’s visit is onerous.
He is mad mad. Sykes was right.
I always think it’s funny when people in powerful positions announce their intention to leave so far in advance.
You’re not doing that good a job that someone can’t train up to replace you in a matter of weeks.
Everyone is replaceable.
I remember exactly where I was (in the Co-op, in Twickenham, where we used to live) in 2017 IIRC when I was browsing the papers in the stationery aisle and I caught sight of the headline that Sir Christopher Geidt had been forced out. And that was the word they used, very frankly, without any of the usual euphemistic dripping spin. And — having been largely indifferent to the royals — I caught my breath, and it hit me, for reasons I cannot explain, that this was bad news. I assumed the late Queen was experiencing a health crisis and her life was coming to an end. And I shook my head and muttered my way home, never having really cared much about this family since Diana passed away. Now? That was clearly the fork in the road, and they took the wrong direction. Geidt would have presided over Meghan and Harry’s wedding, the separation of their office or “household” from William and Kate’s, Philip’s passing, the Jubilee, etc…. And it all would have gone *so* much more smoothly, had he been in charge. These other guys are so far up their own behinds. I mean. Really. It’s pathetic.
Peter Hunt said the same thing a few years ago about Geidt; Things would have been very different if he were still around. Prince Philip announced his retirement in 2017. That gave Charles and Andrew the opening to maneuver to ditch Geidt and elevate Edward Young, obviously Charles’ man, in his place. It’s all been more or less downhill from there.
This guy is two years younger than me but I agree with @Magdalena’s comment up thread, he looks ten years older than sixty. Being a nasty PoS is obviously aging. I can’t believe Will is a year younger than Ryan Gosling either, he has gone to seed in his forties.
The idea that you’d be a “pensioner” at the ripe old age of 60 is…. LOL. Every 60-year-old I know who can work, physically, is still at it, they’re over a decade older than I am, but none are close to slowing down. If you’re thinking “pensioner” in the UK, I’m picturing someone north of 75….. the only people here who can afford to retire at 60 are hedge fund managers, then they get bored and try and get back to it after a few months.